top stories

Monthly Archive for June, 2012

New btvn Forums Launch

Published by admin on June 28, 2012. 0 Comments

The staff of btvn is proud to introduce the next generation of the btvn Forums.  Following the transition from the old MSN Groups page in 2009, a new forum was created at ProBoards.com.  With the move to the WordPress-based interface in 2011, the board was often cast aside and neglected.  After three-and-a-half years with the software, the decision was made to shutter the board altogether.  However, due to a recent resurgence in activity, coupled with the fact that stories were still being broken on the forum, a new board was created.

The new forum, based on the MyBB Forum software, is new from the ground-up.  The end result is an integrated website that can be accessed directly from the btvn.net site.  The right-hand column of the main blog now displays the latest forum posts, and the board updates itself automatically when a new post is made, creating one centralized place for information from both the btvn staff and contributors.

Accessible from btvn.net/forum, the new boards will supplant the old boards.btvn.net address.  As a result, unfortunately you will have to re-register with the site.  Registration is free and painless, and accounts are immediately activated.  Once everything gets back up to speed, conversation should continue uninterrupted.

Thanks for your patience and continued support as we continue to develop and evolve btvn.

Posted in Uncategorized.

Test

Published by admin on June 28, 2012. 0 Comments

Test

Posted in Uncategorized and WBZ (WBZ-TV4).

Rounding Out the Changes: Shake-Ups Across New England

Published by admin on June 28, 2012. 0 Comments


WBZ I-Team reporter Kathy Curran resigned from her post on Soldiers Field Road last week after sixteen years with the CBS-owned duo.  No word on her next move, but her Twitter account still shows off a ‘BZ background and “About Me” box.

Reporter Stephania Jimenez inked a contract with NBC Connecticut, channel 30.  She joins the NBC O&O from KTSM in El Paso, T.X., where she doubled as an anchor and reporter.

Two year FoxCT veteran Jenn Bernstein jumps from Tribune’s Connecticut Fox affil to head down to KYW in Philadelphia.  She joins ex-7 wingman Chris May at the CBS O&O and will pull duties as a general assignment reporter.

WAAF morning guy Greg Hill signed a long-term extension with the Entercom rocker, keeping him fronting the Hill Man Morning Show until at least 2017.  He has been with the station for twenty-six years, twenty-three of those have been during the morning drive slot.

Posted in Boston and Hartford/New Haven. Tags: , , , , , .

Ch-Ch-Changin’ Again: CBS Blows Up 103.3

Published by admin on June 28, 2012. 0 Comments


On the heels of an announcement by the Phoenix Media/Communications Group to reincarnate alt-rocker WFNX as an internet-only station, CBS Radio has announced plans to shuffle the lineup of one of their outlets.

According to Radio-Info.com, the station formerly known as Oldies 103.3 will flip to a variant of the Top 40 format on Thursday at noon.  The new station will brand itself as 103.3 AMP Radio.

Mark Hannon, the SVP and Market Manager for CBS Radio’s Boston cluster, said in a statement, “when looking at the habits of Boston radio listeners, it is clear the music most favored by the biggest group of people is contemporary hit music,” adding, “Boston’s New 103.3 AMP Radio will serve the audience with all of the hits from artists topping the charts, and create a number of ways for listeners to interact with the station – from live events to special appearances and contests.”

Headed by CBS Radio programmers Mike Thomas and Michael Martin, the station will feature a P.D. to be named later as well as an air staff.  The CHR format will hope to steal listeners from Clear Channel’s Kiss 108 and JAM’N 94-5.

The classic hits format will be bumped to the station’s -HD2 carrier, and will most likely feature the same air staff and branding.  No word yet on the fate of the station’s popular Christmas programming block from Thanksgiving until New Years.

Posted in Boston. Tags: , , , , , , .

Boston.com Rocks the Boat, Hires ‘FNX Talent

Published by admin on June 25, 2012. 0 Comments


Good news for fans of embattled alt-rocker WFNX, as Boston.com announced today that they will launch an online radio station.  The new internet streamer will utilize talent from FNX, including ex-DJs Julie Kramer, Adam XII, Henry Santoro, and FNX Program Director Paul Driscoll.  Launching later in the summer, the station will play alternative music and retain Driscoll as P.D.

Boston.com G.M./Globe Chief Advertising Officer Lisa DeSisto remarked to the lifestyle website that, “Boston.com has been at the forefront of multimedia for some time now, producing award-winning videos, live video programming, interactive content, and more,” adding, “We’ve long thought radio would be a natural extension for us, and we’re fortunate to launch with such an incredible team.”  DeSisto, a former employee at the Phoenix, also remarked that the new station would attract a large advertising base, including coveted liquor and club accounts.

This announcement follows that of the sale and ultimate demise of alt-rocker 101.7 WFNX.  In May, station owner Stephen Mindich sold the station and terminated all but four of the twenty-one employees, hoping to slow the heavy losses that his Phoenix publication has been enduring.

Posted in Boston. Tags: , , , , , , .

Fox25 Pulls a Fox25, Expands AM News to Six Hours

Published by admin on June 14, 2012. 4 Comments


Fox25 has decided to expand their morning show by another half-hour. In a move echoing rousing-success-story KRON in San Francisco, the soon-to-be six hour morning newscast will operate using the same staff.  Fox O&Os in other markets use two anchor teams, often with two broadcast identities (Good Day City Name) to fill the time.

Gregg Kelley, GM of the Fox O&O, said in a statement, “This additional expansion reflects our ongoing commitment to covering news for the viewers wherever and whenever it happens.”

Anchored by Gene Lavanchy and Shannon Mulaire, along with Cindy Fitzgibbon, Doug “V.B.” Goudie, and Sorboni Banerjee, the expanded newscast will debut on July 9th.

In addition, the station will also launch a weekend edition of their 6 p.m. newscast on July 7th.

Hat tip to btvn commenter waianae who posted about the news on the btvn forums.

Posted in WFXT (Fox25). Tags: , , , .

Another Murrow for Channel 5

Published by admin on June 13, 2012. 1 Comment


NewsCenter5 has been selected as the recipient of the Large Market category of the 2012 Edward R. Murrow award.  The winning entry, a report about the 2011 tornadoes that afflicted western Massachusetts, was selected from a pool of dozens of nominees.

‘CVB GM Bill Fine remarked in a press release,  “I know the depth of effort and quality of our news programming is exceptional, and viewers have rewarded WCVB with their loyalty to NewsCenter5. This award, bestowed by peers, is the greatest honor we could receive and emblematic of our core mission to serve New England every day.”  His colleague, News Director Andrew Vrees, remarked, “Our entire news team has done an amazing job covering the major news stories affecting New England. Each day we strive to provide quality reporting to the Boston community and this is a testament to our success”.

Posted in WCVB (Channel 5). Tags: , , .

Scott Pelley Anchors “Evening News” From Soldiers Field Road

Published by admin on June 11, 2012. 0 Comments

Scott Pelley, anchor of the CBS Evening News, will anchor the broadcast this evening from WBZ’s Allston studios.  The set, carefully replicated from the original, has been set up in ‘BZ’s newsroom for the 6:30 p.m. broadcast.

According to the station, preparations have been underway for weeks.  Pelley is in Boston for the WBZ Business Breakfast that takes place tomorrow.

Hat tip to former btvn M.E. Max for the heads up and for the Twitter post!

Posted in Boston and WBZ (WBZ-TV4).

Citadel Cans Another: Campanga Done at ‘LNE

Published by admin on June 7, 2012. 0 Comments


After showing anchor Allison Alexander, weather guy Jim Corbin, and sports guy Dan Coyne the door at ABC6, owner Citadel Communications is dropping the axe on chief met Fred Campanga.

After joining the basement-dwelling ABC-affil in 1998 with no on-air experience, Campanga worked his way up the ranks to become chief meteorologist.  However, since new owner Citadel Communications took over last year, changes to the on-air presentation have been coming on all sides.

Following a meeting with station brass, the ousted met told GoLocalProv that he and management could not come to an agreement, remarking, “At the appropriate time, I went to channel 6 management with a reasonable proposal that I thought would allow me to stay at the station for, at least, the remainder of my contract (Aug 2013). The station dismissed my proposal out of hand, and we agreed to terminate the contract on July 31.”

His replacement, Kevin Coskren, will be imported from channel 6′s sister station in Nebraska.  Fred Campanga’s last day will be on July 31st.

Posted in Providence, Talent Shuffles and WLNE (ABC6). Tags: , , .

Another to the Network: Perez Joins Winnick (and others) at ABC

Published by admin on June 7, 2012. 2 Comments


Checking through the btvn traffic logs, a surprising figure was discovered: just over two hundred visitors found the site by searching for the whereabouts of former WBZ reporter Diana Perez. 

Diana Perez, former reporter and fill-in anchor on ‘BZ and MyTV38, resurfaced on ABC News midway through last month.  Perez left the Boston duo after just over a year and joined ABC NewsOne as a New York-based correspondent.

The popular reporter can be seen from time-to-time on ABC World News, as well as other news orgs that make use of ABC staffers.  It is widely speculated that she will also appear on the new joint-venture news network that is being launched by ABC News and Univision.

Posted in Boston and WBZ (WBZ-TV4). Tags: , .